Giantslayer: With GM Placeholder of Doom

Game Master Foxy Quickpaw

With the shield bonus from Shroud of Water, Bupkis isn't as allergic to melee combat as before.

Level synopsis:

HP +8
BAB +1
Lay on Hands is now 3d6 hp
He gets an extra 2nd and 3rd level spell per day (any requests for buffs?)
Saves: +1 fort & will
FCB -> 1/5 combat feat
Skills: +1 religion, +1 perception, +1 sense motive, +1 craft blacksmith, +1 profession soldier.

NB Daseem is missing a number of the normal big six items, he's got no belt, helm, rings, or necklace. If we ever find ourselves somewhere we can buy stuff he'd like some gloves of dueling too.

Level synopsis:

He gets an extra 2nd and 3rd level spell per day (any requests for buffs?)

Defending Bone to protect yourself against non-bludgeoning attacks.

Those were some very timely crits. I might have been next on the floor if we hadn't gotten them - and I already died once.

Working on leveling up today.

Yeah I've been using Defending Bone, I assumed it expired while we rested.

Magic Circle against Evil sounds like a good idea, I assume it moves with the person touched "Area 10-ft.-radius emanation from touched creature". At least that's the way I've always played it.

There's some controversy around Magic Circle against Evil, and I've had different GMs rule opposite ways. The spell description is worded confusingly.

I meant gear in general, as I think the only real item I've listed Ivan getting since then was the ant haul belt. And I did totally miss the level up, though I don't think it would have made much of a difference unless I had decided to take advanced armor training for an extra 2 AC, which I might have, but I was also considering the Mobile stronghold feat. Speaking of, I feel like I have asked before, but, because it will be pertinent,

"While using Mobile Bulwark Style, whenever you use a tower shield to gain total cover, you also gain partial cover (and grant partial cover to adjacent allies) against spells passing through the selected edge of your space. Also, while using this style, you can gain total cover against a single attack made against you as an immediate or swift action."

I'm guessing that, as an immediate action per round, I can negate an attack against me? since you cannot attack someone with total cover. Most spells would still work I think, but say, the first attack the giant leader made each round would be an auto miss?

After that, regular rules would fall back into place (that being the giant could use any of its squares to make the attack from, likely negating any cover from the tower shield)

Also, did anyone add the loot we found in the cathedral to the sheet?

I have a hard time imagining how it could be misread. Range Touch / Area 10-ft.-radius emanation from touched creature is pretty clear.

And if the creature moved? Well, like all touch spells that have a creature as a target, the spell moves with the creature. The only issue I see with the spell description is that it has both, a target creature touched and an area of effect, but only the area is given and the creature touched is implicit in the text of the area.

Most of the x feet area emanation from y are personal. But no one would question that a detect undead moves with the caster, or would they? And a sphere of invisibility would suddenly be stationary too. Antimagic field could be cast, and then the mage could walk out of it, that would increase its usefulness tremendously. But that is not what the rules intend here.

I'm not sure if the spell description is a carry-over from a stationary spell in previous versions of D&D. The description talks about a circle of powdered silver, but the emanation is from a touched creature (whom it should move with). The description says, "Creatures that leave the area and come back are not protected." But is that referring to just the protection against mental control (as in Protection from Evil), or all the effects? The text doesn't say (and perhaps the semi-stationary nature isn't intended?).

Its because you -can- cast the spell as a circle on the ground. As a matter of fact its almost a necessity to do so if you ever plan to use the planar binding spells. (one around you, one around the summoned creature, both focused inward).

I'm good as long as we all agree on how the spell works.

Fighter +1

HP: +10
Skills: +4
BaB: +1
Saves: +1 to all saves
Bravery: +1

Feat: TBD, likely Mobile Stronghold or Advanced weapon training

Skills:
UMD: +1
Perception: +1
Stealth: +1
Fly: +1

Also, please, as a public service announcement to everyone. Please, don't let me forget Ivan has -adamantine- armor. So I have DR3/adamantine.

Otherwise known as "I'm still standing" in last battle.

Level Up

Bloodrager 6/Dragon Disciple 2

HP: +9
BAB: +1
Saves: +1 all

Skills: 4 + 1 Human = 5
Acrobatics +1
Perception +1
Spellcraft +1
Knowledge (arcana) +1
Knowledge (local) +1

Background Skills
Linguistics +1 (Giant language)
Knowledge (engineering) +1

Class Features:
Bloodline Feat (Blind-FightImproved Initiative)
+3 rage rounds
2nd level spells (2/day, 2 known)
Breath Weapon 1/day (30 ft. cone, 8d6 Fire, Reflex DC 16
EDIT: Already had blind-fight.

Bloodrager 6/Dragon Disciple 2

You're Bloodrager 5/Dragon Disciple 3, aren't you?

Menrozzar Vyrlock wrote:

Bloodrager 6/Dragon Disciple 2

You're Bloodrager 5/Dragon Disciple 3, aren't you?

Nope. I decided I wanted a few more rounds of rage and a couple extra skill points, so I went Bloodrager 6 for this level up.

About the Mobile Stronghold.

How I love those feats that do big changes to combat and use little to no words addressing the arising issues.

But some general stuff first. You have to take a swift action in combat to activate your combat style. You are already two feats into that style and I don't remember you using it this way yet.

Second, as I read the cover rules, using it for total cover against a creature with reach standing next to you helps you nothing. Which might be why you haven't used it yet.

The real usefulness comes with the third feat which allows you to get total cover against a single attack.

We have one issue because of PbP: You have to tell beforehand which attack to dodge with that. At the table it would be like: The giant attacks you, do you use the immediate action for cover? No, ok. Rolls dice. That would slow down the game a lot on the boards.

Now for the complicated part: What happens to the attack? Because suddenly you are no longer a valid target for an attack. For other immediate actions like AoOs this is lined out, what happens, like spells lost but here I don't see it. Can the opponent redirect the attack to another target? Turn it into a sunder attempt against the shield? Is the attack lost? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I don't have any use for my swift action usually, so always have him use the stance during the first turn, since it doesn't change too much.

The primary draw was- removing the to hit penalty of the tower shield, some shield bonus to Touch, and this finisher feat.

Far as which attack to "ignore" more or less, for simplicity I'm willing to say "first attack each round from most obvious threat" until I say otherwise during combat.

SO, if I'm fighting a giant and two goblins, he wouldn't at first use the immediate action on the goblins, as they wouldn't be the most obvious threat. However, after turn one, when the goblins shank him for like, 7d6 sneak attack, I would state "use it on the goblins first attack" if I wanted to change it. If I go before them in combat, I would state which of the enemies I would use it on, and it would always be the "first" attack. If surrounded by 3 giants that more or less appeared the same, he would simply use it on the first attack against him unless otherwise stated later.

As for the attack- I believe it is lost, since the action I'm taking is an immediate. I would liken it to a caster saying "I ready to cast wall of stone when he goes to attack me" except its much less "effective" for the remaining attacks.

Readying an Action: You can ready a standard action, a move action, a swift action, or a free action. To do so, specify the action you will take and the conditions under which you will take it. Then, anytime before your next action, you may take the readied action in response to that condition. The action occurs just before the action that triggers it. If the triggered action is part of another character’s activities, you interrupt the other character. Assuming he is still capable of doing so, he continues his actions once you complete your readied action.

And again the rule ends one point too early, but it seems to imply, that if the other character is no longer able complete the action that the action is lost.

With his new shield bonus from Shroud of Water, Bupkis should be pretty well protected from the birds. He can absorb the few hits that get through with his Force Ward.

I'm getting the feeling that a Buffering Cap is a very good idea for melee characters in this AP!

I have two abilities that allow me to negate critical hits. Of course, they still hit, but eh.

Did the bird I killed last time trigger my attack of opportunity?

Yes, it took both attacks

Okay, just checking. I'm working on planning my action.

Is the remaining bird within my reach?

EDIT: By which I mean, is it flying low enough that I can attack it, or is it higher up in the air?

If you walk over there through the area threatened by the cyclops, then yes.

I was going to make my movement be through Daseem's space and then to the space in front of Amira, avoiding the cyclops's threatened area by going behind Ivan.

That works too.

Seems like we found a Torc of Lionheart Fury. Costs 8k to buy and 4k to sell so I suppose at some point (after it's been identified) we can exchange it for a +2 belt/head slot item.

would menrozzar benefit from it?

He would benefit, but it isn't very good.

It occupies the neck slot for a +2 against fear, where usually you'd have a cloak vs everything. If he'd be 12th level he'd get fearless rage, which doesn't look that good. But Menrozzar should say what he thinks of it.

I believe the cloak occupies the shoulder slot, does it not? The "generic" neck slot is an amulet of natural armor.

that said, I am quite looking forward to our shopping spree, we've a lot of stuff laying about, and buying some things to round out our progression will be lovely.

Rounding out = Ivan going back to invulnerability :P

A shopping trip would be nice, Daseem is way behind on defences (mostly AC, but saves are a bit low too). Ideally at this level he'd have at least AC 26 ish, getting there will be expensive and may not be possible.

He's also a bit behind on damage although that's easy-ish to fix: a str belt & gloves of the duelist.

My neck slot is currently occupied by my amulet of might fists, so I'll pass on it.

Oh, I'll do that with some more levels (Ironhide, armor focus, armor specialization from Advanced armor training) Honestly, my plan for purchases is a belt, maybe an amulet of NA (+1). Maybe some fun.

I will be traveling tomorrow through Tuesday and will have only my phone. Please bot me if necessary.

Are the people conscious? Do they also look mutilated? Do they react to our presence?

So far it is Bupkis with a stealth check. And maybe a cautious Daseem.

Ah, okay. I'll make a post.

I assume you go over to the prisoners and check on them?

Oops I posted an ooc comment in the wrong game. Not sure how I managed that, sorry folks.

Are we still here folks? :)

I am.

Just say the word, and you're in a glorious battle with a dragon.

buffs spells? Buff spells.

I'm here, sorry, I thought I posted I was traveling.

@Daseem.

We battled some fleas and lost. let's call it a day. XD

It's funny how fast the glorious call for battle gets overshadowed by player knowledge. I seriously was expecting Daseem to be disappointed that it's only a young dragon.

But it's fun either way. ;)

Haha he might well be disappointed yet ;) If anyone was going to bite off more than he could chew it would be Daseem...

Honestly if we want to gung ho this and get a little crispy fried that's probably ok. (Famous last words)

Bupkis took 2 extra burn (16 non-lethal) healing the people in the cages. He currently has 40 NL and a 16 strength Force Ward, so can take 83 damage before dropping unconscious. So he's probably OK to fight the dragon now.

He should be pretty effective with his cold blast (+14 vs touch for 4d6+6 cold damage).

@Menrozzar
I suggest starting the buffing now.

Okay. Thank you for letting me know.